Round 11 Hostplus SANFLW Match Wraps

By WARREN PARTLAND

South Adelaide escaped with the crucial two Hostplus SANFLW League premierships points after almost being overrun by West Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.

The Panthers kicked the only goal of the final quarter, courtesy of Shae Archbold, to claim a one-point victory and climb within a point of top-placed Glenelg with three rounds remaining.

Incredibly, that goal came from the home side’s only visit inside its attacking 50 for the final term.

The Bloods, fighting to stay alive in the race for the finals, dominated territory but could only manage two behinds from their 14 inside 50 trips.

The visitors were first to the ball in the final quarter, pushed the Panthers aside in the contest and constantly raided their forward line. They just could not finish off their work in front of goal, however.

The inside 50 count favoured the Panthers 26-11 until three-quarter time, although they trailed on the scoreboard against a spirited Bloods outfit led by Asha Dufour.

Sturt snapped a three-game losing streak with a convincing 27-point win over Woodville-West Torrens at Thomas Farms Oval.

The Double Blues dominated the second and third quarters to claim the two premiership points and still remain a mathematical chance of qualifying for the finals.

After putting the first goal on the scoreboard after 10 minutes, the Double Blues conceded a goal to Sophie Zuill four minutes later.

But the home side took control to nail the next five goals, the final two from Georgia Swan, to blow the game apart and all but guarantee victory with a five-goal lead at three quarter-time.

Isobel Kuiper has been an outstanding for the Double Blues this season and she was at it again, having a massive influence with 26 possessions, 12 tackles and seven clearances. Alisha Gepp and India Rasheed combined for 49 disposals, while Jasmin Fego had 22 touches and 16 hit-outs.

Eagles gun Leah Cutting continued to prove herself a dominant ruck force in the league and Grace Martin had an impact.

How appropriate North Adelaide captain Jessica Edwards should seal the upset triumph over top-placed Glenelg when she kicked a terrific goal late in the final quarter at Prospect Oval.

Making her 50th Hostplus SANFLW League appearance, the Roosters star nailed a set shot under pressure to give her side an 11-point triumph.

It was the bottom-placed Roosters’ second successive victory, their only wins for the season, while it was just the second loss for Glenelg and puts it under pressure to secure the minor premiership.

With ball magnet Jessica Bates doing her usual stuff on the ball, the Tigers led early after Eloise Mackereth snapped two goals in the opening quarter.

But the Roosters, playing with renewed belief, applied tremendous pressure to the Tigers and were rewarded with the only two goals of the second term.

The Roosters shared the workload and while they were beaten in the clearances, their defence, led by Kristi Harvey, stood firm, and they had more visits inside their attacking 50.

Norwood maintained its late season surge and closed in on a finals spot with a nine-point victory over Central District at X Convenience Oval.

The Redlegs punished the Bulldogs for their wasteful opening quarter when the home side won the inside 50 count 9-3, but managed to put only six behinds on the scoreboard after missing a string of prime scoring opportunities.

The win has lifted the Redlegs three points clear of fifth-placed West Adelaide with three rounds remaining, while the Bulldogs are still third on the ladder, a point above the Redlegs.

The Redlegs took advantage of the Bulldogs’ shoddy kicking for goal when they added 2.2 in the second term, while keeping the home side scoreless.

Jade Halfpenny was a driving force for the visitors, getting her hands to plenty of ball, while also being heavily involved in the defensive work.

The Bulldogs, with 15 premiership players from last year in the line-up and captain Shelby Smith the side’s spark on the ball, bagged two goals in the third quarter to grab the lead, only to again be kept scoreless in the fourth quarter.